Crocheting for babies is one of the most rewarding crafts. It’s personal, practical, and full of love. If you’re new to crochet—or just curious about Tunisian crochet—this super easy Tunisian crochet baby blanket is the perfect place to start.
This article will guide you through the basics of Tunisian crochet, the supplies you’ll need, and a beginner-friendly baby blanket pattern that’s soft, squishy, and quick to make.
🧶 What Is Tunisian Crochet?
Tunisian crochet (also known as Afghan crochet) is a hybrid technique that combines elements of knitting and crochet. You use a special Tunisian crochet hook, which is longer than a standard hook, to hold multiple loops like knitting. The fabric produced is thick, warm, and beautifully textured.
One of the simplest and most popular stitches is the Tunisian Simple Stitch (TSS)—perfect for beginners.
📋 Supplies You’ll Need
Before diving in, gather these beginner-friendly materials:
Materials:
- Tunisian crochet hook: Size 8mm (or size needed to achieve your desired gauge). Choose one with a cord or an extra-long hook.
- Worsted weight yarn (Category 4): Choose a soft, washable yarn like cotton or an acrylic blend. You’ll need approximately 800–1000 yards for a baby blanket.
- Scissors
- Yarn needle: For weaving in ends
- Stitch markers (optional)
Recommended Yarn:
- Bernat Softee Baby
- Red Heart Soft Baby Steps
- Lion Brand Feels Like Butta
Look for yarn that’s gentle on baby skin and machine-washable.
📐 Blanket Size
You can easily customize the size, but here’s a suggested size for a baby blanket:
- Width: 30 inches
- Length: 36 inches
Tip: You can use a gauge swatch to calculate how many stitches and rows you need to reach these dimensions.
🧵 Tunisian Simple Stitch (TSS) Basics
Tunisian crochet consists of two parts:
- Forward Pass: Picking up loops
- Return Pass: Working loops off the hook
How to TSS:
- Foundation Row: Chain the desired number of stitches. Insert your hook into the second chain from the hook, yarn over, and pull up a loop. Leave it on the hook. Repeat across. You should have one loop per chain.
- Return Pass: Yarn over and pull through the first loop only (this is your chain 1). Then yarn over and pull through two loops at a time until one loop remains.
- TSS Row: Insert your hook into the vertical bar of the second stitch (not the first one), yarn over and pull up a loop. Repeat across. Then, do a return pass as before.
Repeat the TSS row and return pass until your blanket reaches the desired length.
🧸 Super Easy Tunisian Baby Blanket Pattern
Here’s a simple pattern for your first Tunisian crochet baby blanket.
Pattern:
- Foundation chain: Chain 80 (or adjust for width)
- Row 1 (Foundation Row): Work TSS across the chain
- Row 2–Last Row: Repeat TSS for each row until your blanket is about 36 inches long
- Final Row (Bind Off): Insert your hook as you would for a TSS, yarn over, and pull through both loops (similar to a slip stitch). Repeat across to bind off neatly.
- Border (Optional): Add a simple single crochet or shell border around the edges using a regular crochet hook to give it a finished look.
🌈 Tips for Beginners
- Keep tension loose: Tunisian crochet can curl, especially in early rows. Use a larger hook or block the blanket after finishing.
- Don’t skip the return pass: It’s half the magic of Tunisian crochet.
- Practice first: Try a small swatch before starting the full blanket.
🧼 Care Instructions
Machine wash on a gentle cycle with cold water and lay flat to dry, or tumble dry on low if the yarn allows. Always check the yarn label for care guidelines.
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Project
- Beginner-friendly: Simple stitches, no shaping, and a repetitive pattern
- Quick and relaxing: Works up fast with bulky or worsted yarn
- Great gift: Handmade, practical, and adorable
📸 Final Thoughts
Tunisian crochet is a beautiful gateway into textured crochet work. This super easy baby blanket is perfect for gifting, relaxing, and getting confident with your skills. As you become more comfortable, you can experiment with color changes, textured stitches, or borders to personalize your blanket.
Ready to get started? Grab your hook and yarn, and let your creativity wrap a little one in handmade warmth!
Absolutely! Let’s break it down step-by-step so that even if you’re brand new to Tunisian crochet, you can confidently make your Super Easy Tunisian Crochet Baby Blanket.
🧶 Part 1: Get Your Materials Ready
✅ You’ll Need:
- Tunisian crochet hook (size 8mm or larger) – If it’s a long blanket, use a hook with a cord or a long shaft to hold many stitches.
- Worsted weight yarn (#4) – About 800–1000 yards. Use soft yarn suitable for babies.
- Scissors
- Yarn needle (for weaving in ends)
- Measuring tape (optional but helpful)
✅ Suggested Yarn Brands:
- Bernat Softee Baby
- Lion Brand Baby Soft
- Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran
📏 Part 2: Decide the Size
The standard baby blanket size is 30″ x 36″.
For a blanket this size using worsted yarn and an 8mm Tunisian hook:
- You’ll chain about 80 stitches for 30″ wide.
- Work rows until the height measures about 36 inches (around 90 rows depending on tension and yarn thickness).
🪢 Part 3: Learn the Basic Stitch – Tunisian Simple Stitch (TSS)
🔁 Tunisian Crochet Has Two Passes:
- Forward Pass: Picking up loops across
- Return Pass: Removing the loops to form the row
✍️ Part 4: Let’s Start the Blanket – Step-by-Step Instructions
🔹 Step 1: Foundation Chain
- Chain 80 (or your desired width).
- Tip: Keep your chain loose so it doesn’t curl.
🔹 Step 2: First Forward Pass (Foundation Row)
- Insert the hook into the 2nd chain from the hook, yarn over, and pull up a loop. Leave the loop on the hook.
- Repeat this across the row.
- You should now have 80 loops on your hook.
🔹 Step 3: Return Pass
- Yarn over and pull through 1 loop only (this makes your edge chain).
- Then, yarn over and pull through 2 loops at a time until you have only one loop left on your hook.
- This completes your first full row.
🔁 Step 4: Tunisian Simple Stitch Rows (Repeat Rows)
Now you’ll repeat the Tunisian Simple Stitch (TSS) until the blanket reaches the desired height.
Forward Pass (TSS):
- Skip the first vertical bar (the loop already on your hook).
- Insert your hook under the next vertical bar, yarn over, pull up a loop.
- Repeat this across.
Return Pass (same as before):
- Yarn over, pull through 1 loop.
- Yarn over, pull through 2 loops at a time across the row.
💡 Repeat this until the blanket is 36 inches tall.
🔚 Step 5: Final Row – Binding Off
When you reach the desired length:
- Do the Bind-Off Row like this:
- Insert the hook into the next vertical bar.
- Yarn over, pull through the bar and the loop on your hook (like a slip stitch).
- Continue across to create a neat edge.
🎀 Step 6: Optional – Add a Border
A border gives the blanket a finished look and helps flatten curled edges.
Easy Border (Single Crochet):
- Use a regular crochet hook.
- Attach yarn to any corner.
- Work single crochet (sc) evenly along the edges.
- Place 3 sc stitches in each corner to keep them flat.
- Work 1–3 rounds, depending on the look you want.
✅ Final Step: Finish Up
- Weave in all yarn ends using a yarn needle.
- Lightly block the blanket if it curls (you can pin it and spray it with water or steam it gently).
- Wash and dry according to your yarn’s care instructions.
Video tutorial:
